Steering mechanism for vehicles.



PATENTED JAN. 8,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- mM 1.. i?

Inventor.

. A. L.. RIKBR. STEERING MECHANISM POR'VEHIGLES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1902.

No. 840,660. 7 PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

' A. L. RIKER.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION P ILED, MAY 15, 1902.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.'-

Mtnksses; Inventor.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW L. BIKER, OF SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY,AND HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STEERING'MECHANISM POPS-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI; ANDREW L. RIKER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Short Hills, in thecounty of Union and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SteeringMechanism for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof..

reach of the occupant of a vehicle by which This invention relates tomeans within the he effects the movements of the parts to do,- flect thewheels of the vehicle and steer it. For convenience an uprightsteering-post, either inclined or vertical, is placed in proximity tothe seat occupiedby the operator of the vehicle, and though freqluentlythis post is turned by a lever it s usua t o o erate it by means of awheel at its upper en while the operation of either m'eansrotates thelower end of the pillar and through the rotation 'of the pillar movesthe connections through either links or bell-cranks or other mechanismsuitably disposed or pro ortioned. In order to connect the lower en ofthis rotating post or pillar with such mechanism, va-

' rious means have at times been suggested, in the operation of some ofwhich there are decided defects, impeding the eifect of operation orlessening the durability of thestructure. .It is required that such aconnectionshall, if possible, transmit the movement without any backlashin case any threaded parts are used and not only when new, but shall beso arranged as to prevent any wear as well as friction of coactingmembers, which latter would, in addition to its inherent dis advantage,augment the former trouble. It is alsonecessary that a construction forthis purpose shall more or less prevent reaction of any outside tendencyto deflect the wheels, but in the reverse should enable the deflectionof 'the wheels through'the steering connectionsto be effected with theleast power, rapidity, and facility in every way.

The object of. my invention is to accomplish all these results, and tothat efiect I construct my steeringepillar with a threaded lower portionand a coacting threaded member pivoted approximately inits axis 'to anoperating part of the wheel-turning connections, all of which is morefully described hereinafter, particularlyin reference to the drawingsforming a art hereof, indicating one form of the embodiment of myinvention.

Among other objects of my invention is the combination, with theoperating parts at tlielower, end of the steering-shaft, of a casingentirely inclosing the same and rotecting all such parts against dirtand. ust, so

constructed and arranged whereby thereis- .also permitted most'efiicient oiling, a most advantageous supporting of parts, as well asother desirable features, also the combination of all or some of theabove features in a hinged operating-wheel construction. The

former combination has, it might be spe ifi ally mentioned, a furtherobj t i .nections and (pillar axially longitudina with the upper en infull elevation. Fig. 4'is a lan view of the lower cap or casing removedll'om-the rest of the bracket, but with the parts immediately associatedwith it. Figs. 5 and 6 are modified forms of my invention chiefly withrespect to supporting means for the pillar or lower end connections,Fig. 5 being a plan view, and Fig. 6 a side view partly broken away.

' In the embodiment of the invention illustrated A is a platform orfoot-board, which ma be an substantial portion of the automo ile bo y orframework.

B isa steering-handle O, steering shaft or pillar; D, a bracketsupporting the steeringpillar'; E, the axially-moving member of, thepillar-or screw, while F is a bell-crank lever to the upper end ofwhich, f, is attached a link e", connecting F operatively with E. To thelower arm of f is attached a link or bar H,.' leadin to the members Jand through them to t e steering-wheel K. The lower end of C is'recessedand may have a member,

such as a, set therein, which contains the 1 threads whichengage With E;To the lower axially-moving block, whilepin e attaches end of E the linke is'attached bypin e to the it to f, so as to accommodate the movementof the end of f, moving in an arc abputthe axis of F. The axis of e 'islocated substantially in the axis of E and C when F is in its normalposition, or,.in other words, when steering-wheel K is directed straightahead. Above the casing D on C are the members integral with it, and atthe lower end of C is the member integral with it, c, which 'is-a collaror .a stop-preventing thelongitudinal. movement of the steering-pillarrelative to its support or casing, while at the same time C is carriedin that support in bearings which permit its freerotation. In proximityto the.

support and, asI prefer, substantially inte therotationof E, but

gral therewith are guides G, with which the lower end of E or its pin ecoacts to prevent permits longitudinal movement. It will be noted thatthe su porter bearings project as a casing at covering the screwportions and protecting them from above, at the'same time'aflording ameans for permitting the proper lubricat-- i119; oftheworkingparts-as,'for' instance, by

the oil-hole d! a It will be seen that by the movement of hand-wheel Bthe steerin'g pillar C is rotated,

, and by theengagement of the screw 0 with E the latter movedlongitudinally, as its rotation is prevented by the guides G. Thismovement moves arm f of the bell-crank 'F up or down, depending upon thedirection of movement of B, and thus moves arm I f back or forth andthrough the o erative connections deflects the, steering-w eel K. Theresist'anceto movement'ofthe steering- Wheel K reacts throughthe'steering connections to Band finally to the end' of the arm f andthe pin orpivot point connecting it with As this-point of reaction orthe resistance to the motion of E is substantially in the axis of E,there is no tendency'to twist E sidewisea tendency to jam the threads ofE in the engagingthreads c.fwhile the gu des G, guiding the axis of theconnections in a plane substantially coinciding with the axis of thepillar, further prevents any tendency of the screw-E to, as it might betermed, tumble? or jam. Thedistortions'just referred to are what wouldcause fric'tion or, if-not,

would cause "wear and aftera short time make the engaging threads loose;This looseness, resulting' in backlash, would make an appreciablemovement of hand-wheel B necessary before effectinganymovem-Bnt of thelower steering connections, besides causing a' crattling andrall the[obvious imperfections which are common to many's'teermg cormections,

It willthus be seen that even \vitli'a' very short steering-blocksmoothly operating and non wearmg steering connections can be linkconnections and=traverse-memben held in any redetermined'position.

.-made ifthe design is according to my invention; while, vice versa, theblock 0 may be }very: short and engaged by a long block or screw E. v

In Figs. Ea-and 6 the bracket D is made heavier-and has lateraltrunnions, as shown particularly in-thedotted lines in Fig. 5,

which are su ported in bearings in the floorplate. oscillatearoundtheaxis of these trunnions, which are arranged so that axiscoincides with the normal position of the axis of e, the

in co'nnectionbetwe'en the traverse member E, and the. link system.Having it pivoted at this point permits the hinging of the entirepillar, with its base'and sup orts that is, throwing the steering-handleorward or bringingitbaek into a position convenient to the operatorwithout disturbing'the steering-wheels by moving the bell-crank. Thebell-crank, as'shown-in Fi 6, is su ported on'the lowerrside of'the pate, whie i is-attached to the floor and which likewise supprts thepillar-baseD, while the arm-fof the hell-crank may be cranked orbent soas'to be brought intoconvenient position in'the'normal axis of thepillar for attachment "toithe do not wish to limit myself to suclrarrangement, as'modifications may be made'in the arrange ment ofbell-crank and other connections "to permit the free movement ofthe-basal),

'the object of'any-arrangement being-how- I ever, to permit the forwardextension drum seen thatmy construction of operating parts permits theincasing of the steering'mechanism in a very compactadvantageous manner.The castings or like parts contiguous-tothe base, or which might beconsidered to together constitute the base of the pillar, are-acontinuous casing protecting all the operating or relatively oscillatingor screw members from dirt or dust either thrown u p from below thevehicle or from above. The construction of this casing in severalpartsalso aiiords an easy means of assembling the interconnected parts, readyad ustment or mechining of the hearings to a erfect lit, and-at the'sametime inclosing al parts which in their operation'require' protection orlubrication, the only members protruding from the casing being suchtransmit motion as, for instance, the shaft of the bell-crank], to whichthe oscillating arm or other operat- By't 1s arrangement the plate D cansame results;

broadly, any arrangement 1n a steering ing member is attached. The basemembers of the pillar are, as will be seen particularly in the figureson the first sheet, securely at.- tached to rigid members of theframework of the vehicle, as the angle-iron there indicated, whileshould the floor port-ion be made of heavy construction their attachmentdirectly to that is permissible.

It will be readily seen that my invention is susceptible of variousforms other than that specifically shown and described, While it may ofcourse be used for any purposes where the conditions of service mightdemand. Also I donot limit myself to the precise details of construction.as the screw or link or form of lever or connection or other parts asshown in my preferred form, as other substantially equivalent means maybe used :to ef ect the I do not, however, claim, 9

mechanism of interengaging threaded parts relatively axially movable,the one rotated by means of a steering-shaft, while the other i is heldagainst rotation, in combination Wibhw provisions for permitting theforward and backward swinging of the rotating. steeringshaft Withoutvarying the relative axial position of the interengaging'threadedelements.

What Iclaim as my invention, and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a steeringpillar or shaft rotatable about its axisto steer a vehicle, a block or interengaging member movable axiallythereof and means for'guiding said block or interengaging member-andpreventing rotation thereof,, and steering arm or lever attached to theend of said movable block. I

2; The combination of a steermg'pillar or shaft rotatable about its axisto steer a vehicle, a block or interengaging member movable axiallythereof, connections to prevent rotation thereof and steering 1 armv orlever attached to the end of said movable block, said lever moying in anarc, and means connectin the block moves directly therein.

The combination of a steering pillar or shaft rotatable about its axisto steer a vehicle, a block or interengaging member movable axiallythereof, a steering arm or lever attached to the end of said movableblock, and means coacting with said block to prevent its rotation,interconnecting mechanism between the pillar and the steering roadwheelsof the vehicle magnifying the motion transmitted, whereby a limitedmovement of the rotating shaft causes a sufficient deflecting movementof the road-wheels as and for the purpose described.

,5 4. In combination with a steeringpillar or shaft rotating about itsaxis to steer a vehicle, an interengaging member movable axiconnectionof the component parts.

5. The combination in a steering-pillar for.

a vehicle, of an independent traverse screwblock with flexibleconnections at one end and cooperating rotating steering-shaft andoscillating steering arm or lever pivoted to a part integral with thesupport for said steering-shaft pillar for the purpose described.

6. The combination of a steering pillar or shaft rotatable about itsaxis to steer a vehicle, a block or mterengaging member movable axiallythereof, a steering arm or lever attached to the end of said movableblock, and guides parallel with the axis of the shaft and coacting withsaid block, whereby the movement of the block is restrained to a purelyaxial one and the twisting strains prevented.

7. In a motor-vehicle, a steeringpillar, a threaded lower portionsubstantially integrai therewith, a bearing for said pillar includingmeans to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, a threaded screw movingvaxially within said steering pillar or shaft,

link connections between said. screw and a steering-lever substantially,in the plane of 1 axis of the steering-shaft. v

8. In a motor-jvehicle,a steering-shaft, hearing or support therefor, anaxially-moving member, and cooperating arts on said shaft andmembertomove the atter axially, a steerin arm or lever,connections'between said axia ly-movin member and lever, connections tocause t e deflection of the steering-wheels of the vehicle, said supportfor the steering-pillar mounted to swing: about an axiallymo ng block?and a pivoted lover,

-said connec ions lying substantially in the planeof said shaft andblock, substantlally as shown and described. v

10; In a motor vehicle-lever-operating device including a rotating,shaft and an oscillated 'member, interconnecting mechanism foroperating the one by the other comprising threaded or toothedcooperating parts and a casing completely inclosing and supporting theinterconnecting mechanism and supporting the same.

2o between thelower end of saidrotating steer- 3O transverse shaftmounted in said casing, the

1 1. In steering mechanism for motor-vehi- :cles, arota-tingssteeringeshaft, threaded connections at the lower end thereof,inter-engage ing threaded member connected to oscillate a @transverseshaft, adepending arm mounted nponsaidtransverse shaft, a thrust-bearingfon said steeringeshaf't and a bearing for said transverse shaft, acasingcompletely inclosing saidthreadedparts and embodying said i ,12.In a steering mechanism for motor-vebearings.

: hides, a rotatingsteeringeshaft and hand .,;wheel' for operating-the.same, a threaded portion operated by the lower end of said shaft,.

, ing, said latter shaft projectingthrough the a transverse shaftand-means operated'thereby to deflect. the 'steering road-wheeis, acascasing, saidcasingsupperting said shaft and I likewise supporting therotating steeringshaft, the interconnecting operating parts ing=shaftand transverse shaft being entirely inclo'sed withinsaid' casing.

13.2111 a steering mechanism for automo biles, an upright rotatingshaft, a support at the'base of said shaftfhaving bearings for saidshaft and bearings for a transverse shaft, said base attached to; arigidportion of the framework .or gbodyand including a casing completelyinclosing the operating parts, a

"operating mechanism attached to it within the casing and moved by therotation of the upright shaft, and having a member attached to itoutside of said casing t'ooperate the li-nks and levers to deflect thesteering-roadwheels.

14, In a steering mechanism forinotor-vehicles,'a?nupright rotatingshaft, interengaging-threaded or toothed parts at the lower end thereofto operate anoscillating member and connections therethrough to theconnecting-rod and wheels, the oscillating memher a support or casingfor the" lower end of sai shaft and pivot or hinge connections for saidsupport having an axis substantially in% "pprt being hinged or pivoted,the-axis of said nge and the axis of said pivotal connectionsubstantially co nciding 1n the normal posi- Q tion of the parts, andsaid common axis substantially intersecting the. axis .of the rotat ingsteering-shaft. I v

p 16; In a steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, .a rotating uprightshaft above the. .fioor of the vehicle, a depending oscillating armbelow the floor otthevehicle, interconheating means whereby the rotationof the shaitwill ,OSCllliLtQthQ depending lower arm and connections anda casing completely inclosing all the threaded and toothed parts of saidinterconnections and embodying supporting-bearings for said rotatingshaft and for said oscil- Iating member. v

17. In a steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, a rotating upright shaftabove the floor of the vehicle, a depending oscillating arm below thefloor of the vehicle, interconnecting means whereby the rotation of theshaft will oscillate the depending lower arm and a casing completelyinclosing all the threaded and toothed parts of said interconnectionsand embodying supporting-bear-' ings for said rotating shaft and forsaid oscillating member, and an inlet in said casing 'for oil above thethreaded or toothed parts.

, 18. In steering mechanism. for 1notor-vehicles, a supporting-andinclosing casing in- .cludlng means for attachment to the framcwork orbody of the vehicle, said casing embodying a thrust-bearing andshaftebearing substantially for the purpose described.

19. In a steering mechanism for motor-vehicles, an upright shaft,mechanism at the lower end of said shaft operatively connecting the samewith an oseiilating member projeoting downwardly, a supporting andinclosing casing for the lower end of said shaft, an inlet to saidcasing from the upper part whereby the same can be used as andconstitute an oil-reservoir substantially as and'for the purposedescribed.

20. In a steering-gear for motor-vehicles including a rotating shaft andits operating hand Wheel or lever, a rocking lover or arm to thedefiectable road- Wheels, intermediate threaded connections foroperating the latter by'the former, said connections including a tubularcasing, an

interiorly-close-fitting shell with a threaded portion fixed thereto,and an engaging threaded member within the same whereby said casing,shell, and threaded member cooperate in supporting one another and intransmitting the motion from the hand-wheel to the rocking lever.

-21 In a steering-gear for motor-vehicles, a rotating shaft and means atthe upper end for operating the same, arocking lever connected to thedeflect-able road-wheels,inter mediate connections for rocking saidlever by the rotation. of said shaft, said intermediate connectionsembodying extpriorly and intoriorly coacting threaded parts oflengthrela tivoly great with relation to their diameter,

whereby the same are substantially self-supporting, and a cooperatingcasing ad acent to the point of engagement of said threaded parts.

22. In a steering-gear for motor-vehicles the combination of a socket, anut adapted 'to rotate in the said socketa screw-pin threaded into saidnut, a rocking lever, a coupling between the said lever and the saidscrew-pinfa casing extended from the said I socket and adapted toinclosethesaid screwpin and a part of the said rocking lever.

23. In a steeringear for ,motor-vehicles,

the combination Wit the body or frame of the vehicle of a socket mountedon said body or frame, a pillar, a nut mounted-on said p' lar andadapted to rotate'in'said socket, a

screw threaded into said, sues rocking lever and means forcouplingsaidrocking lever to said' screw.

2.4. In a steering-gear-for motor-vehicles;

the combination with a rocking lever,v a screw and a, nut,'means forrotating said nut, and a-couplininbetween the screw and one arm of theroc g lever adapted to allow of the straightmovement of the saidscrew-and a curved movement of the said arm rocking lever. I j

25.' In a steering-gear formotor-vehicles, in combination with a body orframe of the vehicle of a support, a socket or non-rotating pillarmounted on said support extend upward and inclosing substantially the faof the length of the shaft or operating-pillar, an operating-pillar orshaft including at its lower end a threaded member rotating in the lowerend of the socket or stationary illar, a second threaded member movingWit the support or casing and engaging-said casing, whereby its rotationis prevented and its threaded 'mem parts, said section or movementconfined to axial movement upon the rotation ofthe pillar, a rockinglever and means for coupling said rocking lever to said 26. In asteeringear'for motor-vehicles, a shaft or operating-p ar including athreaded member in the lower end thereof, a rocking lever and means forcoupling it with said threaded member, a casing comprising three parts,an intermediate section, a lower section parted therefrom substantiallyat the bearing of the rocking lever and an upper sec' parted from theintermediate section, substantiallyat the thrust-'bearingof the piltionThis specification signed and witnessed this 27th day of December, A.1171901 ANDREW BIKER.

In presence of HERMAN F. CUN'rz, J. W. Goonnmen.

